We’re starting into Proverbs, and I pointed out Wednesday that it’s all about living wisely.
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, To receive the instruction of wisdom… (Proverbs 1.1 – 3, NKJV)
But Proverbs 2 makes it clear that acquisition of wisdom is neither automatic nor easy:
My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2.1 – 5, NKJV)
IF you…
- receive my words
- treasure my commands
- incline your ear to wisdom
- apply your heart to understanding
- cry out for discernment
- lift up your voice for understanding
- seek her as silver
- search for her as for hidden treasures
THEN you will understand the fear of the LORD…
Sounds like intentional effort to me. Compare Seth Godin’s counsel from yesterday: Lock up your candy. Make the good choice easy and the bad choice hard. Do the work.
The rewards are worth it.
Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path. (Proverbs 2.9, NKJV)
God’s wisdom will protect you from evil men…
Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you, To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things, From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; Who rejoice in doing evil… (Proverbs 2.11 – 14, NKJV)
…and evil women:
To deliver you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words, Who forsakes the companion of her youth, And forgets the covenant of her God. For her house leads down to death, And her paths to the dead; None who go to her return, Nor do they regain the paths of life… (Proverbs 2.16 – 19, NKJV)
Enough said.
PS It’s Friday 13th. Hope you had a good day!